Evening Brief: Feds provide top-up to seniors’ benefits

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Good evening, readers.

The Lead

The Government of Canada is providing seniors with a one-time payment of up to $500 to help them deal with financial challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

People in Canada receiving the federal Old Age Security benefit will receive an extra $300, while anyone older than 65 who also receives the Guaranteed Income Supplement will be given another $200. The government approximates that 6.7 million people will be eligible for the base benefit and 2.2 million will receive the $500 total. Payouts will be processed automatically and are not dependent on new legislation being introduced, according to Seniors Minister Deb Schulte, because they rely on existing programs.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says technology to assist with contact tracing will play a critical role in the province’s strategy as they endeavour to ramp up testing for COVID-19.

“We’re coming up with new apps when it comes to contact tracing and testing. It’s absolutely critical that that’s part of it,” Ford said Tuesday as the legislature convened for its first question period in roughly two months, and his government faced questions from opposition parties about issues like COVID-19 testing across the province.

Opposition parties say the Liberals are taking too long to implement high-speed internet across Canada, while Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef said her government has done more than any other to advance the file.

NDP MP Brian Masse said the federal government is holding back on accelerating connectivity by not spending the entire $20 million collected from spectrum auctions, and instead waiting on the private sector to act.

The federal Liberal government is setting up a new COVID-19 funding stream out of its existing infrastructure programs.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna says the government will set aside up to 10 per cent of the $33.5-billion Investing in Canada program — delivered through agreements with provinces and territories — and allow for greater flexibility, faster approvals, and a bigger federal share of the cost.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Canadian researchers are joining the effort to develop a Chinese vaccine against the deadly coronavirus, with plans to begin human trials in Canada for a potential defence against COVID-19 that employs genetic technology from the National Research Council.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday said his government is going to be “very, very careful” about reopening any kind of international travel, including to the United States, as the May 21 expiration date for current border measures between the two countries draws nearer.

“We are looking at stronger measures to make sure that we’re following up appropriately on people [coming] over, because as we know, as economic activity starts to ramp up … it is likely that we see a few more people … trying to cross the border,” he said.

However, 31.2 per cent of Quebec respondents in the 1,404-person automated telephone survey, conducted between May 6-7, believe it’s safe to reopen those facilities this month, the highest of any studied region. Schools in Quebec outside of the Montreal area reopened this week, even though it is the province with the most cases in Canada.

Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition won’t be held this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers on Tuesday formally announced the cancellation of the 2020 iteration of the country’s largest annual fair, which was to be held from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments on whether House committees and prosecutors may obtain financial records that President Donald Trump has fought hard to protect. A ruling, which could open up information about Trump’s pre-presidential business affairs, is expected by July. (New York Times)

Nearby at the Capitol Building, House Democrats unveiled a new coronavirus aid bill, which would direct more than US$3 trillion for state and local governments, health systems and another round of stimulus checks. Majority leader of the Republican-controlled Senate, Mitch McConnell, said the bill that a vote will be held on Friday is “exactly the wrong approach.” (Washington Post)

A leaked draft of E.U. plans that will be presented on Wednesday shows that European countries will be advised to open borders to countries with “similar overall risk profiles” to the coronavirus in a bid to boost the crippled tourism industry. (The Guardian)

More than 100 COVID-19 cases are linked to one 29-year-old man who visited five bars and clubs in one of Seoul’s most popular nightlife districts. Authorities are now racing to track down thousands who may have been exposed to him to prevent a second eruption of cases in the country that saw dropping rates of infections and deaths. (Vice News)

Hong Kong’s government will prioritize a controversial bill that would criminalize booing the Chinese national anthem. Penalties for doing so would be fines of up to HK$50,000 (roughly C$9,050) and three years in prison. (Time)

The Kicker

The National Post dives deep to explore what $2,000 per month (the value of the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit) will get you in cities across the country. Here’s an unsurprising spoiler: $2,000 doesn’t net you that much in Vancouver or Toronto.